M Abul Kasem (Kashem) বাংলা

Liberation War

The accounts below were supplied by the family. Differing or thinner accounts elsewhere online have not cancelled them, and they are not described as independently verified either. Command responsibility, organisational support, direct combat, humanitarian help and civilian protection are kept distinct.

Titles and descriptions (kept separate)

In documents: the memorial plaque (p. 15) reads “wartime District Commander and Mujib Bahini chief (BLF), greater Kushtia district”; the 2022 memento (pp. 18, 19) reads “wartime District Commander and BLF chief, Kushtia district; one of the principal commanders of the Bangshitala battle”; the 2001 letter (p. 8) addresses him as “Kushtia District BLF chief” Visible in document. We have not merged these.

Wireless Station battle

Context: early fighting in Kushtia involved the Wireless Station, Kushtia Zilla School and Police Lines.

His role: although without military training, he was entrusted with responsibility. In this specific battle he did not personally fight with a weapon; as commander he organised resources and supplies and gathered and coordinated fighters.

The memorial plaque calls him “commander of the Kushtia Wireless Station battle and the Bangshitala battle” (p. 15) Visible in document.

Journey to India and Akashvani

After that battle he travelled to India with five friends and spoke on Akashvani about the Liberation War and the situation in Bangladesh. He returned, then went to India again because of the situation.

a plan to make a Liberation War film was discussed with Raju Ahmed. Tofail Ahmed brought him from there and advised him to join training at Dehradun, which he did.

Training at Dehradun

After training he returned to Bangladesh and learned that a reward of Tk 10,000 had reportedly been announced for him. (No document showing this announcement has been seen yet.)

Bangshitala battle

According to the family he directly participated in and led the Bangshitala battle as chief commander.

In documents: the 2022 memento says “one of the principal commanders of the Bangshitala battle” (pp. 18, 19); the memorial plaque says “commander of the Bangshitala battle” (p. 15); in two testimonials he signed (pp. 1, 2) he states that two comrades took active part in the Bangshitala battle Visible in document.

He wrote the book “Bongshitalar Juddho: Age O Pore” (1996) on this battle; the Internet Archive record gives the date of the battle as 5 September 1971 (family-supplied catalogue text).

The Wireless Station battle and the Bangshitala battle are different events, and his role in each is described separately.

Wounded fighters and humanitarian work

Official recognition

His name appears in the Ministry's lists (pp. 7, 14), Lal Muktibarta 411010296 (p. 13) and BCS Gazette serial 490 of 6 September 2003 (pp. 10, 11) Visible in document.